Future Eagles draw Jordan 2-2 after 3-3 opener at FIFA U-15 World Cup
- Nigeria's Future Eagles drew 2-2 with Jordan in Baku on Sunday morning.
- Captain Timothy Ijachi scored first, and Abdulrazak Mufutau equalised in stoppage time.
- Nigeria now has two points from two Group AD games and faces The Gambia later on Sunday.
Nigeria's Future Eagles picked up their second draw in two matches at the first FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan, after a 2-2 result against Jordan on Sunday morning.
Coach Patrick Bassey's side had opened their Group AD campaign with a 3-3 draw against South Sudan on Saturday at the Hovsan Competition Complex. Both games were played in the eight-a-side format, with two halves of 20 minutes each.
Against Jordan, Nigeria took the lead in the 24th minute through captain Timothy Ijachi. Jordan hit back through Zinedine Abushaer in the 29th minute and went ahead in the 37th through Abdelrahman Khear.
With defeat looking likely, forward Abdulrazak Mufutau of 12Alive FC, Ibadan, scored in stoppage time — the 40+2 minute — to rescue a point.
Two points, more games to come
The result leaves Nigeria with two points from two matches. The team was drawn in Group AD alongside South Sudan, Jordan, The Gambia, Cyprus and Pakistan.
The Future Eagles are back in action later on Sunday against fellow West Africans The Gambia at 4:30pm Nigerian time. They close out the group stage on Monday against Cyprus at 8:30am and Pakistan at 3:15pm.
How teams perform in the group stage decides which tier each country enters for the second phase on October 28 and 29. The tier finals are set for Friday, October 30.
According to FIFA, the tournament is open to all 211 member associations and is its largest ever, with 189 associations taking part in Baku from 24 to 30 October 2026. The U-15 competition for boys and girls was approved by the FIFA Council in December 2025.
For Nigerian fans, the early draws are a reminder that this is a development tournament first — a chance for young players to test themselves against the world. The team arrived in Baku on Thursday with a 14-man squad and six officials.
What happens next
Sunday's match against The Gambia gives Nigeria a quick chance to push for a first win. Two more games on Monday will then settle the team's tier for the knockout phase.
